White Center Now: The blog about White Center

Memorial plans are now finalized for Dick Thurnau, the longtime White Center resident and community activist who died earlier this week. His family shares that news and this remembrance:

Dick Thurnau, 89, a strong advocate for the White Center community, passed away peacefully on May 4, 2014.

He was born February 17, 1925 in Pingree Grove, IL, the 6th son of Alice & John Thurnau. He graduated from Edison Technical Institute in Seattle and served in the Army in the South Pacific in WWII from 1943 to the end of the war in 1946. Upon his return home, he married Helen Grisham of Illinois, on April 25, 1946. On their honeymoon they traveled by train to Seattle where they made their home. Dick worked for Mack Trucks starting as a mechanic and working his way up to Manager of Service Engineering for the Mack Western Division in Hayward, California. He retired in 1980 with 30 years of service, moving back to Seattle & the home he bought in 1948. He loved woodworking and made many beautiful things for family and friends. He worked tirelessly for his group called Friends of Hicklin Lake to clean up the lake water and the surrounding park & neighborhoods. He was also an ardent supporter of TAF (Technology Access Foundation, a school which teaches young people about technology), which is now located at the edge of the Lakewood Park Property. He will truly be missed by many.

Dick had four children, Terry Thurnau, deceased (Wendy Schufreider), Kathleen Dombrowski (Joseph), Marvin Thurnau (Sue) & Cheri Buettner (Gordon), 8 grandchildren, Robert, Jennifer, Todd, Jennifer, Cynthia, Mandy, Samuel, Suzanne, 12 great grandchildren Tim, Kevin, Hayden, Jacob, Sawyer, Trevor, Tyler, Meranda, Crystal, MacArthur, Marshall, Lucas, Abigail and 1 great, great grandchild, Adrian.

He is also survived by Marcia Wollam, a significant partner with Dick and who has assisted him with his community efforts, especially with the Floating Islands that are now part of Hicklin Lake.

A memorial service will be held at 2 pm, Friday, May 9th, at the Technology Access Foundation Building, 605 SW 108th, Seattle, WA 98146. To honor Dick and in lieu of flowers, the family asks donations be sent to TAF at the same address.

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